IPID director exposes police corruption in Ekurhuleni: 'crime has become a business model'
IPID's Director, Thuso Keefelakae, testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry about the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department's corruption which has turned crime into a business model.
Image: OUPA MOKOENA Independent Newspapers
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) director, Thuso Keefelakae, delivered alarming testimony on Wednesday at the Madlanga Commission, exposing alleged collusion between the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in a variety of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, taxi violence, and vehicle hijackings.
Keefelakae stated unequivocally that law enforcement officials in Ekurhuleni have transformed crime into a systematic business model.
“Drug peddling is something that is a challenge in such a way that it's a business. The police are involved. The EMPD is involved in those kinds of things,” he said.
According to Keefelakae, corrupt officers divide territories and criminal portfolios among themselves.
“They operate in such a way that they are in silos. This silo is responsible for making sure that where drugs are concerned is our territory.
“Those who are dealing with drugs, who carry consignments of goods, are in their terrain. It's non-touch and some are dealing with tax-related issues.”
The intelligence, he said, did not come from speculation. “We got the information from our intelligence people, hence why the city has turned into our interest.”
His testimony added weight to explosive allegations already heard by the commission including claims of a rogue EMPD unit led by suspended EMPD acting chief, Julius Mkhwanazi, accused of operating outside the law.
That evidence suggested elements within the metro police functioned with autonomy and impunity.
Mkhwanazi and his team of officers refused to undergo the annual vetting process, after 275 EMPD officers were found to have criminal records in 2022, while 100 others were awaiting trial.
This was revealed by retired EMPD deputy chief Revo Spies, who testified before the commission that a criminal record verification process launched in 2022 uncovered widespread criminality within the metro police ranks, only to be suddenly stopped by city officials.
According to Spies, of the 3,762 EMPD officers listed in the vetting process, 3,174 had no criminal records, 275 were found to have previous convictions, 100 were awaiting trial, and 211 officers failed to submit fingerprints.
Keefelakae warned that Ekurhuleni is not the only focus. “It is not the only rotten region. We will go for those that are on the same path,” he said.
Pressed by co-commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo on IPID’s strategy to tackle entrenched corruption, Keefelakae conceded the watchdog lacks proactive capacity due to limited resources.
Instead, IPID is striking reactively, removing implicated officers one by one.
“The best way we looked at this was that, because we do not have proactive mechanisms on our part, we are going to deter this problem… through being reactive, removing those who are responsible.
“I know that we are touching the nerves there, and that's exactly what we are doing.”
The commission continues.
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